Should I take a PICU job as a new grad??

Specialties PICU

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Can anyone help make a decision a little easier for me. I was offered a new grad RN position in PICU at a Level 1 teaching University Hospital. The nurse mgr stated that she doesnt take new hires but she would make an exception for me due to my job historyas a air force medic. I am worried that starting off there as a new grad will be tough. They have a fellowship along with the preceptorship before I am alone and will pay for me to get my BSN. The opportunity seems great but job wise as a new grad do you think it is to complicated for a new grad??? All opinions are :welcome:.

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Specializes in Pediatrics Only.

Take it :)

If you like children, and the ICU experience, then take it. It will be a wonderful opportunity, especially if the nurse manager is making the exception.

As long as they show good teamwork, have a great orientation planned for you, then I think you should take it.

Good luck :)

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

That's a tough question. If you are confident that you are going to receive the orientation and support that you will need as a new grad, then OK. However, if they are not used to hiring new grads, they may not be very good at orienting them and integrating them into their staff. For example, their expectations of you may be unrealistic. It really depends upon the specifics of the unit.

I suspect that at a big teaching hospital, you would have the option of transferring to another unit if it didn't work out. That's a nice "safety net." Don't hesitate to use it if you start regretting your decision to start your career there.

Good luck to you with whatever you decide.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

I think you would be an exception, since you have "field" experience as a medic. You know what you're getting into better than the typical new grad who might have worked as a waiter through school. You've seen some situations where things get crazy fast and have seen how people work through them.You know that your best resources will be the people around you and that you don't have to do everything by yourself. The fact that they have a fellowship is great! You'll get a chance to ease into things by learning a lot before you're expected to do anything. And the preceptroship will let you build on what you've learned. I wish our unit had that sort of support for new grads; we might actually have better success integrating them if we did! Ours get a rather mediocre preceptorship, because the people being selected to mentor them are relatively new themselves. It's like photocopying a photocopy of a photocopy. Eventually it's so blurred that it's not useful...

You will be different. If you want PICU, take it!!

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Specializes in PICU, surgical post-op.

I was a new grad in the PICU! If I do say so myself, I did just fine. Yesterday was actually my last day at my job, and I went out in style. Charge nurse, going on transports, admitting intubated head traumas, breaking up shoe fights and on and on it went.

I had a strong orientation - 5 months with a preceptor and lots of long days in class. As long as they have a good orientation, go for it!

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Thanks for the info if anyone else has any advice its greatly appreciated. AliRae if you dont mind me asking why are you leaving PICU? And also did you start out at a big hospital? Thanks again

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Specializes in PICU, surgical post-op.
AliRae if you dont mind me asking why are you leaving PICU? And also did you start out at a big hospital? Thanks again

I started out at a big teaching hospital. The tough part about a teaching hospital is learning how to deal with the residents. They don't necessarily know enough to write the right orders or do the right thing in any given situation. It took a bit to get to the point where I knew enough and was confident enough in that knowledge to advocate for my patient properly when they were wrong. A definite plus about a teaching hospital is the fact that there's always someone around to answer a question.

I'm leaving PICU to go to Liberia for a year and work on a hospital ship (Mercy Ships). It's a charity that provides free surgeries to the poorest of the poor. I'll probably end up back in the PICU when I get home, but for next year, it's off to Africa with me to learn how to be a ward nurse!

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
I'm leaving PICU to go to Liberia for a year and work on a hospital ship (Mercy Ships). It's a charity that provides free surgeries to the poorest of the poor. I'll probably end up back in the PICU when I get home, but for next year, it's off to Africa with me to learn how to be a ward nurse!

WOW, that is so awesome!!! I wish you the best of luck and hope you get the opportunity to touch many people's lives!

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thanks and be safe and have fun!!!! thats gonna be an awwesome experiance!!!

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I say go for it! Congrats!!

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Specializes in PICU, Sedation/Radiology, PACU.

Since this question was asked in 2007-nearly 5 years ago- the OP has undoubtably made her decision already. :-) Welcome to AN, jazmin. You'll learn that when you search for threads, you'll come across some from many years ago. The only indication that it's old is the date on the posts.

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